When the Eclat team asked for a simple, durable freecoaster hub with a larger slack setting than most, they got to work on developing something totally new. The Eclat Cortex Freecoaster takes the tried and tested clutch style internals, and addresses all of the problems that those hubs had infamously been plagued with in the past. For 2017 this hub includes the Viper nylon-fibreglass hubguard.

Lets break it down for you?

“Yes it crankflips!”. The first issue was the internal friction mechanism. A typical Clutch system hub uses x2 small balls on springs to apply friction to the inside of the hub shell, allowing the hub to engage. These small balls often wear out, causing damage to the hub and eventually end up in the hub slipping and cease working. Eclat took this system and modified it to use x3 points of friction which is not only incredibly durable but also more stable than other clutch style freecoasters. After research and testing, they worked out that they could apply stable friction to a much larger section of the clutch, rather than just at x2 points like a regular classic KHE style hub. This makes the hub much more durable and will require next to maintenance.

The biggest issue with clutch style freecoasters was always that they generated “play” over time. When the clutch threads into the driver, it acts like a vice and clamps the large drive side hub bearing, and ultimately will cause large loads on that bearing causing it to weaken and become loose. Eclat solved this issue by using a special “stopper ring” which sits freely behind the bearing, preventing the clutch from passing a certain point and putting load on the bearing and destroying it. This special part really give the Cortex a huge advantage over other hubs, and enables you to give it as much side impact as possible, without the hub generating play.

Eclat's team asked for a hub with a large slack setting, so the Cortex comes out of the box with just under 1/4 crank of slack, however this is fully adjustable and can be made much smaller by adding small spacers behind the clutch, which are included with the hub.

After 2 years of heavy testing, Eclat still have team riders riding the Cortex hub as good as it was the day it was laced up.

Update on my first review.After couple of weeks of intense riding with the V2 of the Eclat Cortex Freecoaster, I noticed a slight side play. I managed to reduce (but not entirely suppressed) this side play with a quick maintenance (re-greased and tightened) the hub. This side play is now acceptable compare to other freecoaster i used to ride.